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Examples of Public and Private Figures

Review this list of examples to help understand the difference between public figures/officials, limited-purpose public figures, and private figures for purposes of defamation law.

Name

Type

Town
Mayor

Public
Official(A mayor is an elected official and therefore is a public official for
purposes of defamation law.)

George
W. Bush

Public
Official(The President of the United States is an elected official and therefore
is a public official for purposes of defamation law.)

Laura
Bush

Public
Figure(The President’s wife is a person who has pervasive power and influence in
society and is therefore a public figure for purposes of defamation law.)

Paris
Hilton

Public
Figure(Well-known celebrities have pervasive power and influence in society and
are therefore public figures for purposes of defamation law.)

Bill
Gates

Public
Figure(As the head of a major corporation and one of the richest men in the
world, Bill Gates is a public figure for purposes of defamation law.)

Roger
Clemens

Public
Figure or Limited-Purpose Public Figure(Roger Clemens is a well-known
athlete and likely to be considered a public figure; at a minimum, he would
be a limited-purpose public figure as to issues involving sports.)

Local
expert on teen suicide

Limited-Purpose
Public Figure(The expert would be a limited-purpose public figure because she has
distinguished herself in this particular field.)

Church
pastor who decries abortion

Limited-Purpose
Public Figure(The pastor would be a limited-purpose public figure because he thrust
himself to the forefront of a particular controversy in order to influence
the resolution of the issue.)

Local
grocery store manager

Private
Figure(Individuals who do not qualify as public officials/figures or
limited-purpose public figures are private figures.)

Your shy neighbor

Private figure(Individuals who do not qualify as public officials/figures or
limited-purpose public figures are private figures.)

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Disclaimer

Information in this guide is based on general principles of law and is intended for information purposes only; we make no claim as to the comprehensiveness or accuracy of the information. It is not offered for the purpose of providing individualized legal advice. Use of this guide does not create an attorney-client or any other relationship between the user and the Digital Media Law Project or the Berkman Center for Internet & Society.

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